Butterfly bushes are a great perennial flowering bush that is fast growing. Plant this express-growing bush in your yard in the spring and by summer the bush is large and flowering. By fall, this bush is huge and still green.
The butterfly bush is great for planting in front of decks where lattice work is needed. Plant butterfly bushes and you can save money on lattice work. These bushes fill out quickly, becoming lush and dense with foliage. Any place that needs space filling, the butterfly bush will work well in.
Bloom colors of the butterfly bush come in a wide range. White, pink, purple and yellow are some of the colors available to choose from. The golden butterfly bush shows forth in a beautiful yellow that is attractive almost anywhere it is planted. The flowers are semi-fragrant.
The bush is hardy in zones 5 - 9. Warmer climates are more suitable to the butterfly bush. Bees, hummingbirds, praying mantis, butterflies and other types of birds are attracted to this bush, yet butterfly bushes are not prone to insect problems like the June bug.
The foliage of the butterfly bush is herbaceous meaning it has the characteristic of a herb. Most of the leaves stay on the butterfly bush during winter though they do wilt down. Over watering will also make this bush unhappy.
Plant your butterfly bush in the full sun. This plant survives the south side of the house very well. Butterfly bushes will grow well on the north side of the home, but they will not bloom as hard. Your butterfly bush will not need deadheading though some deadheading will make the bush more attractive. The more this robust bush is trimmed, the thicker the foliage gets and the more it blooms. The butterfly bush blooms in the late spring to early summer and will continue to bloom until outdoor temperatures begin to frost.
To propagate the butterfly bush, cut soft or semi-hardwood cuttings. You can plant them directly into potting soil after dipping them in a rooting hormone, or you can place them in water. Dipping them into rooting hormone and planting seems to work best. Do not place cuttings in the direct sunlight. Place them in an area where they will receive morning sun and keep the soil moist. Before long, you will have a yard full of bushes that hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to.
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Now I am sure you are asking, "Why would I want to know about Joe Pye Weeds" Well, it is a wild flower that is also known as a 'Trumpet weed' or 'Queen of the Meadow'. It is North American native perennial herb from southern Canada to Florida and from there west to Texas. |
